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A Necessary Heir
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Question about book I'm editing
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I don't read romance stuff, but four sex scenes sounds like quite a lot to me.
If this is the 2nd such scene since they are back together it's probably unnecessary unless it advances something in the story that you didn't mention in your post. Good luck!
Since the scene doesn't move the story and I find it unnecessary, I think I will move some of the description to the other scenes and delete the scene. I'm going to put the book away and read it again in a few months and see if the scene hits me the same. Thanks so much for your help. As someone mentioned, the fact that I'm questioning it means my gut is telling me to take it out, which makes sense. :)
If, as you say, the scene doesn't advance the plot, I'd take it out and maybe replace it with a shared look or smile or gesture, something that reinforces the couple is now on a different, more connected level of intimacy.
Any time you recognize that a scene is not necessary for the story that is when you should cut it. That is a rule of thumb that I learned from my writing instructor years ago.
L.A. wrote: " I'm going to put the book away and read it again in a few months and see if the scene hits me the same."I did that with one such scene in my current WIP. When I re-read it, I thought "You know, that is over the top even by my own standards." So, I made some drastic alterations.
Sometimes "wait and see how I feel about it later" is a great plan.
Maryann wrote: "Any time you recognize that a scene is not necessary for the story that is when you should cut it. That is a rule of thumb that I learned from my writing instructor years ago."Yep, the proverbial "murder your darlings."
L.A. wrote: "Hello everyone, I am in the middle of editing one of my historical romance novels and I have a question. I tend to not include sex scenes into my stories unless I feel they are essential. I have..."Not always true.
There are sometimes reasons to keep scenes that supposedly do not "propel the plot." One example is when the drama or action has been very intense for quite a while. Here, the reader may need a chance to decompress. This is a method used often by Shakespeare. After great intensity, he might pop in a comedic scene that had no relevance to the plot.
In addition, who is to decide if a particular scene is essential or not? A writer is a creator of worlds, so he gets to be boss.
Writers should listen to advice, but after considering it, must follow their hearts.
If the last scene is the most detailed, maybe replace one of the earlier scenes with it and remove it from the end. Four isn't too many but if you feel like you don't need one to reinforce the HEA, but it's the 'best' one, then I'd keep it but put it somewhere else. Maybe the first time is the most detailed and the other two are just quickies? ;-)
Great discussion. Thank you everyone. :)
Chiming in late, but I agree- cut it.
Hi Abigail, I decided to shelf it and reread it again later. :) Book 1 of that series is coming back from the editor this week and so I'm waiting to get it back before I delve back into book 2. Since the series connects it's better if I work in this crazy manner. I'm working on Viking research for my next time travel, while I wait.What are you currently working on?
I hear ya. It's always good to have a plan. :)I'm working in turning a blank page into a masterpiece. Blech.
A four-page sex scene! Wow - any guy that lasts longer than thirty seconds definitely needs four pages devoted to them. And just before going to visit the mother-in-law!But seriously, I agree in part, with Suzanne, that a scene doesn't necessarily have to propel the plot. However, I do feel that it still needs to be important to the story, for example, revealing something about the character.
A sex scene just for the sake of titillation I think is unnecessary, unless you use it to demonstrate something about the relationship: the way a woman is touched could depend on how she is feeling - sad/hurt/reestablishing trust, etc.
Finally, if you don't feel happy with the scene, your reader probably won't, either. Ditch it and show that the hero has got the balls to stick up for his girl instead of pandering to his mother. I think that demonstrates his love for her better than sexual gymnastics.
I hope the words start flowing for your masterpiece, Abigail. I know what it is like to stare at a blank page. :)Simon, I completely agree. Although, perhaps we should call some of the pages foreplay. lol But if the scene feels unnecessary, then it must go. The Hero definitely comes to his lady's defense when she's faced with his mother. I wouldn't like him if he didn't. His mother is a controlling and suffocating presence, but then, I did make her that way.
Now here's the question. As I mentioned this scene is detailed more than the others, but regardless, I wonder, should I cut it? It's only four pages.